Education Commons^™

Interview: Schools Coping With Covid-19, Vishal Varia

Teacher India

Some schools have taken rapid measures to prevent learning loss due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Vishal Varia shares the experience of the Rosary Group of Schools in a conversation that includes some useful tips for schools and teachers.

Digital Development: What It Means For Teachers, Amy Lightfoot

Teacher India

Technology can be leveraged for teachers’ professional development. Amy Lightfoot explains how.

International Education In Regional Study Destinations: Building The Evidence Base: Final Report, Justin Brown, Jo Doyle, Leyna Clarke, Ali Radloff, Darren Matthews

Higher education research

The objectives of this project are to develop the evidence base in ways that enable the development of marketing messages that attract international students into regional areas in Australia. To achieve this objective, the project has identified: the profile of international students in regional areas; the pull factors that attract them to study there; the rate at which students appear to convert from short-term non-award courses into formal qualifications; and factors underpinning success in attracting international students to regional areas. Drawing on significant advancements in the geocoding of enrolment data to the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Remoteness Structure and …

Effectiveness Of School-Based Wellbeing Interventions For Improving Academic Outcomes In Children And Young People: A Systematic Review Protocol, Katherine Dix, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Shani Sniedze, Toby Carslake, Jenny Trevitt

Wellbeing

This systematic review protocol outlines the background, methodology and inclusion and exclusion criteria for a systematic review of how effective are school-based wellbeing interventions for improving the academic and non-academic outcomes of children and young people in mainstream schools? The proposed systematic review will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness evidence. It will complement system-wide strategic imperatives for health and wellbeing promotion by providing robust evidence to inform policy and practice supporting student wellbeing. The review will only involve interventions that report impact on academic achievement for a population of students …

Infographic: Child Online Safety, Dominique Russell

Teacher infographics

Results of a cyber safety survey conducted over three years with respondents from 30 different countries have recently been released. DQ Institute surveyed 145 426 children and adolescents on issues related to cyber safety to assess which countries are considered safest.

Infographic: Sleep And Schoolwork, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

A new Health Behaviour in School Aged Children study offers insights into the lives of 11- to 15-year-olds in England. Our latest infographic looks at the proportions of young people who reported not having enough sleep to be able to concentrate on their schoolwork, and how the figures have changed since 2014.

Systematic Review Of The Literature On Professional Education Accreditation, Neville Chiavaroli, Kate Reid, Pru Mitchell, Jenny Trevitt

Higher education research

This report is critical and systematic review of the literature on professional education accreditation models, associated methods, and the effectiveness and impact of each model. The review was conducted to inform a review and update of the Royal College of Vetinerary Surgeons (RCVS) standards of accreditation for veterinary degrees. The purpose of the study was to rapidly appraise the evidence for the effectiveness, impact, and feasibility of different accreditation approaches, in order to inform best practices for the accreditation of professional education programs. The study focused on accreditation for programs which produce practice-ready graduates, including for veterinary programs. The authors …

Analysis Of 21st Century Skills Integration As Applied In The Philippines K To 12 Program. Final Report, Claire Scoular

Curriculum development and review

An analysis of 21st Century Skills integration in the Philippines was designed to support the Philippines identify a strategy for assessment, teaching, and learning of 21st century skills (21CS). This project identified and built on a number of recent studies and country initiatives that have highlighted the need for different approaches to the integration of 21CS. This project had three overarching aims: 1. To identify best practices on the use of classroom-level teaching strategies of 21CS to support learning 2. To build in-country capacity to understand, identify, and observe the skills at classroom level 3. To develop a Strategic Road …

Creative Thinking: Definition And Structure, Dara Ramalingam, Prue Anderson, Daniel Duckworth, Claire Scoular, Jonathan Heard

Assessment and Reporting

In recent years there has been an increasing recognition that creativity and creative thinking should be fostered as valued outcomes of schooling, either in their own right, or as part of a set of so-called ‘21st-century skills’. While the importance of creative thinking is now widely accepted, it remains the case that there is a lack of agreement regarding a definition of creative thinking, nor is there a universally adopted framework to guide its teaching and assessment. It is in this context that the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) has reviewed the extensive literature on creative thinking and developed …

Collaboration: Definition And Structure, Claire Scoular, Daniel Duckworth, Jonathan Heard, Dara Ramalingam

Assessment and Reporting

The definition of any skill or construct is essential prior to the assessment, teaching, or development of pedagogical resources in relation to the skill. The ACER collaboration framework is designed to support researchers and educators with a clear definitional model from which to base their understanding and development of the skill. This collaboration framework has been developed to address the challenges associated with teaching and assessing collaboration. While there are many definitions of the skill, which are outlined in the first part of this document, few provide a means to operationalise collaboration in the classroom. This framework is designed to …

Critical Thinking: Definition And Structure, Jonathan Heard, Claire Scoular, Daniel Duckworth, Dara Ramalingam, Ian Teo

Assessment and Reporting

The development of critical thinking as an essential skill in 21^st century learning is uncontested within educational and professional settings. The degree to which it is operationally defined, taught and assessed, however, remain at large. This incongruence complicates efforts to develop critical thinking in students, as well as devise intervention techniques and assessment tools. This framework has been developed to address the challenges associated with teaching and assessing critical thinking. While there are many definitions of the skill, as outlined in the first part of this document, few definitions provide a means to operationalise critical thinking in the classroom. …

Teachers’ Priorities For Education Spending, Sue Thomson

Teacher columnist - Sue Thomson

In my last column I examined secondary school teacher and principal views on resourcing issues that hinder quality teaching, as revealed by the OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS). What, then, do these teachers see as the spending priorities for Australian education? And are the priorities different in primary schools?

Infographic: A Teacher’S Weekly Workload, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

The OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS 2018) asked teachers about their working hours. This infographic shows the average number of hours teachers in Australia reported having spent on a range of activities in the most recent calendar week prior to the survey, including during weekends, evenings and other out-of-class time.

Connect 241 - February 2020

Connect

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Infographic: Wise Words On Collaboration, Dominique Russell

Teacher infographics

What advice would you offer to your peers, thinking about your experience as an educator? We put this question to you in our annual reader survey. This infographic looks at some of the responses we received on the topic of collaboration.

Environmental Scan: Topical Areas To Inform A Future Review Of The Australian Professional Standards For Teachers, Kerry Elliott, Pru Mitchell, Hilary Hollingsworth, Charlotte Waters, Jenny Trevitt

Teaching standards and teacher evaluation

The brief was to conduct a broad sweep of literature that has surfaced since the publication of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers in 2011, and to consider how this literature could inform any future review of the standards. This multi-pronged scan method identified eleven topics that have increasingly influenced teachers' work over the past decade. The environmental scan report provides a critical review of current educational research and policy literature for each of the 11 topics. Findings provide a description of the topic, key sources, an outline of the changing landscape as it relates to teaching, examples of how …

The Impact Of The Ib Primary Years Programme (Pyp) On Student Wellbeing And Other Related Social-Emotional Learning Outcomes, Katherine Dix, Shani Sniedze

Wellbeing

This study investigated the impact of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) on student wellbeing and related outcomes. The PYP, an educational framework for children ages 3–12, offers a holistic education focusing on whole-child development through an inquiry-driven approach. It does so through multiple programmatic elements that include leadership and teacher professional development, to deliver an inclusive curriculum in classrooms that builds transdisciplinary skills, culminating in the development of students’ international-mindedness, critical thinking and attributes of the IB learner profile.

Infographic: School Safety – Global Comparisons, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

The latest OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS 2018) asked principals about safety at their school, including incidents of bullying and cyberbullying, intimidation or verbal abuse of teachers and staff, and violence among students. Today’s infographic compares results from Australia to six other countries and global averages.

Technical And Vocational Education Training: Foundation Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Education Analytics Service

The purpose of this module is to provide introductory information Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), outlines the case for investment and provides effective strategies to strengthen TVET investments. It provides a foundation to engage in this topic and apply advice from staff with operational or expert levels of knowledge in education. On successful completion you will be able to be an informed participant in forums related to TVET.

Conceptions And Factors Associated With Effective School Leadership, Anaghaa Wagh

Teacher India

Anaghaa Wagh discusses the school leadership phenomenon from the school leaders’ perspective.

Re-Examining Participatory Approaches In Education, Anannya Chakraborty

Teacher India

Drawing from the challenges of participatory approaches to development, Anannya Chakraborty describes the need for innovations to successfully engage education stakeholders at every level.

The Gentle Man Who Taught Infinity, Sheshagiri K.M. Rao

Teacher India

Sheshagiri KM Rao describes the non-conventional teaching methods of his high school mathematics teacher Channa who helped students to discover the beauty in mathematics.

Fun With Grammar, Beena Anil

Teacher India

Activity-based learning can help students to learn grammar. Dr Beena Anil shares practical tips.

Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility: Case Study Interview Guides, Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility

Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility

This document contains the guiding questions used by the Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility (GTF) in its case studies. The purpose of the GTF is to enable the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to assess the long term development contributions and public diplomacy outcomes of Australia’s investment in Australia Awards. The GTF is designed to provide a strong evidence base to inform DFAT’s management of the Australia Awards.

Global Tracer Facility Global Tracer Survey 2020 (Year 5) Survey Instrument Items, Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility

Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility

This survey instrument for the Year 5 Global Tracer Facility (GTF) Global Tracer Survey 2020 outlines the survey sections, area of focus, type of question and response options. The questions in the survey relate to the Australian development scholarship/fellowship which participants have previously completed.

The results of the survey are discussed in the report Australia Awards Alumni Global Tracer Survey 2020.

Student Leadership: Why Is It Important And How Do We Support It?, Amy Lightfoot

Teacher India

Teachers and other educators can play an important role in helping young people to realise their ambitions and to hone their leadership skills. The author explains how.

Are The Rights Of Children In Conflict With The Rights And Entitlements Of School Teachers?, Vimala Ramachandran

Teacher India

Unfavourable treatment and discrimination continue to dominate Indian classrooms. This article describes on-ground realities and systemic challenges of school education in India.

Using Project Work To Enhance Learning, Divya Kapoor

Teacher India

The old school model of passively learning facts and rote memorisation is no longer sufficient for preparing students to survive in today’s world. Project-based learning can help foster 21st century skills, says Divya Kapoor.

Supporting Examination Reform In Nepal, Mee Young Han

Teacher India

ACER is helping to ensure that school assessment in Nepal focuses on testing higher-order thinking skills.

Compassion Is The Need Of The Hour, Anannya Chakraborty

Teacher India

The pandemic reminds us of our duty to inculcate the values of empathy and compassion in every child so that they learn to become individuals who not only display sensitivity towards the situation of others but also support them in times of need.